2023 Official Astros World Champs Offseason Thread

[tx 3 putt 76956]

 

[Scraps 13561]

Well no shit he wants to stay with the Astros.

[Mstrat 16]

Looking ahead at the FA class of 2024, there are no good options at catcher. The OF options aren’t so great either. This is the offseason to make those moves.

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

1 hour ago, TonyTexas said:

 

I’d like to hear why y’all are saying this. If you’re talking about an extension before free agency, then maybe. He seems to want to maximize  But if the Astros match or exceed the best offer three years from now, he’d gladly take it. 

Nothing other than a feeling. Not in a “this guy is a malcontent way, just in a “this guy doesn’t seem  as connected to the fan base or city” as some of the other guys. 
That’s mot a bad thing. He’s from Florida. He didn’t choose to play here. It’s cool. Just my sense. 

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

5 minutes ago, Mstrat said:

Looking ahead at the FA class of 2024, there are no good options at catcher. The OF options aren’t so great either. This is the offseason to make those moves.

Yep. It’s why I wanted Contreras so badly.  They don’t have to solve 2024 OF this off-season.  A 1 year guy and wait and see on Leon or a couple of the other guys is just fine imo. 

[henrygandorf 29191]

51 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Nothing other than a feeling. Not in a “this guy is a malcontent way, just in a “this guy doesn’t seem  as connected to the fan base or city” as some of the other guys. 
That’s mot a bad thing. He’s from Florida. He didn’t choose to play here. It’s cool. Just my sense. 

wanting to make a bunch of money isn't the same thing as wanting to be elsewhere. 

maybe he's really used to winning so he takes it for granted, but it doesn't happen everywhere.  he got drafted to a team where his brother already played and he seemed pretty excited about that.  he's performed well and seems like 'one of the guys' to me when they're celebrating or whatever.

he also seems a little reserved and his personality doesn't exactly scream la or nyc to me, so i don't think that's it.  he doesn't seem disconnected to the city or fanbase to me, but i would have no idea.  there's also a good chance we've offered him multiple buyout type deals, but typically you don't hear about those if they're not signed.

if he goes to free agency, he'll leave because we don't offer the types of deals he'll fetch from somewhere else.  not because he wants to be somewhere else.

[runthebone 7982]

Tucker's just not very emotional, like when he robs a home run then just chews his gum.

[tx 3 putt 76956]

26 minutes ago, runthebone said:

Tucker's just not very emotional, like when he robs a home run then just chews his gum.

hes a quiet guy, hard to read. It’ll be interesting to see what happens

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

45 minutes ago, henrygandorf said:

wanting to make a bunch of money isn't the same thing as wanting to be elsewhere. 

maybe he's really used to winning so he takes it for granted, but it doesn't happen everywhere.  he got drafted to a team where his brother already played and he seemed pretty excited about that.  he's performed well and seems like 'one of the guys' to me when they're celebrating or whatever.

he also seems a little reserved and his personality doesn't exactly scream la or nyc to me, so i don't think that's it.  he doesn't seem disconnected to the city or fanbase to me, but i would have no idea.  there's also a good chance we've offered him multiple buyout type deals, but typically you don't hear about those if they're not signed.

if he goes to free agency, he'll leave because we don't offer the types of deals he'll fetch from somewhere else.  not because he wants to be somewhere else.

It could just be quiet or reserved personality and that’s what I’m seeing with a feeling that he’s not as all in as others. 
I know they talked extension with him last year but didn’t get particularly close. 
he’s the kind of guy you probably need to Lock up as a rookie if you are going to do it. He’s too young and too close to FA to feel compelled to sign now. It’s not like he’s a pitcher who could have his arm fall off. Pretty low risk for that dude. 

[Mitch Hedberg 2090]

1 hour ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Yep. It’s why I wanted Contreras so badly.  They don’t have to solve 2024 OF this off-season.  A 1 year guy and wait and see on Leon or a couple of the other guys is just fine imo. 

Yep Contreras was actually a long play but I’m not upset we passed. Bigger bases, two throws may make defensive catchers even more valuable. Sign Vazquez. And sell Conforto on a two year deal with opt out after one to throw up big stats and win a World Series. Bat 7th, knock in 80+. Profit. Only OF rental available next July will be Ian Happ. If you get him.  

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

2 minutes ago, Mitch Hedberg said:

Yep Contreras was actually a long play but I’m not upset we passed. Bigger bases, two throws may make defensive catchers even more valuable. Sign Vazquez. And sell Conforto on a two year deal with opt out after one to throw up big stats and win a World Series. Bat 7th, knock in 80+. Profit. Only OF rental available next July will be Ian Happ. If you get him.  

Agreed on Conforto. I’m good with Vasquez if he’s going to be the playoff starter. I think achicago might be trying to win and that division sucks so maybe no of rental available.  
of course, if Yordan is going to be in LF most of the time that means we can go to best bat available. I will renew my call for Nelson Cruz to be DH against LHP. I think he’s only 45. 

[tx 3 putt 76956]

There’s no telling who will be available in july

did anyone thing this time last year that Juan soto would be traded ?

[henrygandorf 29191]

weren't there acuna trade rumors?  just go get that dude, not sure what the hold up is.

[Mitch Hedberg 2090]

39 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

There’s no telling who will be available in july

did anyone thing this time last year that Juan soto would be traded ?

Yep. That’s what I meant about rental going into FA. Every player is potentially available. That’s what pissed me off about Click last year. He said no OF was available but with pitching to offer I promise you someone was available. But depending on how teams play, who knows who will play themselves into availability.

[WBT 20570]

50 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Pretty low risk for that dude. 

Seems a Bellinger-like collapse would be worst case.  And after getting non-tendered he still signed for $17MM.  Must be nice to have that as your worst case.

[WBT 20570]

From the Rosenthal article:

Quote

• Teams are making a renewed push in trade discussions for A’s catcher Sean Murphy, and the negotiations for free-agent catcher Christian Vázquez also appear to be gaining momentum.

The clubs pursuing Vázquez include the Twins, Padres, Cubs and Astros. Murphy obviously would be a fit for those teams as well. The Rays and Guardians also have shown interest in Murphy, who is under club control for three more seasons.

 

Edited December 11, 2022 by WBT

[henrygandorf 29191]

this is the most active offseason for catchers in recent memory.  the blue jays need to unload one as well.

we should end up with someone solid as the contreras consolation prize.

[tx 3 putt 76956]

27 minutes ago, henrygandorf said:

this is the most active offseason for catchers in recent memory.  the blue jays need to unload one as well.

we should end up with someone solid as the contreras consolation prize.

maybe we can offer chas for springer and their back up catcher ?

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

There’s no telling who will be available in july

did anyone thing this time last year that Juan soto would be traded ?

I mean, I started talking about it in March or April last year and people mocked me. 

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

29 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

maybe we can offer chas for springer and their back up catcher ?

When I tried to trade Chas for Springer said TOR wasn’t throwing in enough so maybe 😊
TOR wanted to sign JV. That would be the only reason for them to move off of money. Sprinter is projected to have $11M in surplus value over the course of his contract. If he was traded and they didn’t throw in money it would be A) because they are looking for a salary dump and B) they wouldn’t get much back. Like when Arenado got

traded for nothing and Col threw in money. 
allegedly they are open to trading Bryant and throwing in money to get off the deal. If that’s true HOU should look into that. 

[Hank Chinaski 6315]

1 hour ago, Wulaw Horn said:

I mean, I started talking about it in March or April last year and people mocked me. 

I don’t think I mocked you, but I definitely didn’t think he’d get moved with that much team control remaining. I guess I underestimated how bad Washington really was and how relatively crappy Soto was going to be last year. It shouldn’t have changed anyone’s minds, but I wonder what that trade would’ve looked like if he was having a typical Soto season. 

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

28 minutes ago, Hank Chinaski said:

I don’t think I mocked you, but I definitely didn’t think he’d get moved with that much team control remaining. I guess I underestimated how bad Washington really was and how relatively crappy Soto was going to be last year. It shouldn’t have changed anyone’s minds, but I wonder what that trade would’ve looked like if he was having a typical Soto season. 

I don’t think it mattered at all what he was going to do. They were spending a ton of dead money and clearly more than 2 or 3 years away from being good again so that was the ONLY logical move for them once he turned down their very generous extension offer. Logic doesn’t always win out, but this time it did.

[runthebone 7982]

All I know is that I was at a meaningless Nationals game this past year when Soto made the last out at third down 7, and I thought:  what a dumbass.  Maybe he should be an Astro.

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

7 minutes ago, runthebone said:

All I know is that I was at a meaningless Nationals game this past year when Soto made the last out at third down 7, and I thought:  what a dumbass.  Maybe he should be an Astro.

It’s one of my FAVORITE ongoing gags with this team- how mad people get about the Tootblans. 

[Hank Chinaski 6315]

1 hour ago, Wulaw Horn said:

I don’t think it mattered at all what he was going to do. They were spending a ton of dead money and clearly more than 2 or 3 years away from being good again so that was the ONLY logical move for them once he turned down their very generous extension offer. Logic doesn’t always win out, but this time it did.

Oh I agree that they needed to move him; I just didn’t think they’d take a package like they ended up getting from SD. I figured it would take more. I was wrong. 

[henrygandorf 29191]

a bunch of champs + adam frazier. 

 

[Dutchrudder 11139]

On 12/10/2022 at 6:13 PM, Wulaw Horn said:

What would your extension offers (max) be for the following: player/extension/portion that’s FA money 

Javier (7/100)- 4/80 FA years

Abreu (6/50) 3/38 FA years 

Framber (5/85) 2/45 FA years 

Garcia (7/70) 3/45 FA years 

Urquidy (6/45) 3/30 FA years 

Tucker- (10/250) 7/210 FA years  

Peña- (10/100) 5/70 FA years 

obviously if those guys keep it up they’d all outearn the FA offer here but I feel like that’s somewhere between 70-85% value for all fuys at least 3 years out  bigger discounts for spend and Garcia as they are 4/5 years out respectively  

 

I'm good with all those, but it's not my money.  Pena needs another good season or 2 before your start talking about a 10 year deal. 

[tx 3 putt 76956]

The days of buying some of their FA years are dead. Way too much money being thrown around now 

[tx 3 putt 76956]

Whatever Correa gets, pena could be looking at 30% more when he hits the market 

[rvm96 1643]

5 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

The days of buying some of their FA years are dead. Way too much money being thrown around now 

Idk, Atlanta has some mind control method to do it over and over

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

9 hours ago, Hank Chinaski said:

Oh I agree that they needed to move him; I just didn’t think they’d take a package like they ended up getting from SD. I figured it would take more. I was wrong. 

Gotcha. I thought the package was decent was my sense but I’m not a prospect hound. 

[Wulaw Horn 19070]

6 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

Whatever Correa gets, pena could be looking at 30% more when he hits the market 

Seriously bro- Peña will be 31. Carlos is 28. Peña for his career is 1% better than average offensively, Correa is ~30% better for his career. If Peña gets within 35% of Correas career earnings it will be a shock and it will only be because Peña got WAY better, which I’m here for. 

Edited December 12, 2022 by Wulaw Horn

[WBT 20570]

The official World Series bluray releases tomorrow

https://www.amazon.com/Major-League-Baseball-Presents-World/dp/B0BG9DJ8LQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3F3I7RPN1ZM0A&keywords=2022+world+series+bluray&qid=1670863467&sprefix=2022+world+series+bluray%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1

 

[henrygandorf 29191]

it’s on fs1 tonight at 5pm ct. 

[kevwun 15788]

My guide shows some NFL show at that time.

[Fudge Nuggets 19190]

19 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

maybe we can offer chas for springer and their back up catcher ?

Make them throw in Manoah before even bothering to pick up the phone.

[runthebone 7982]

The TV listing says Bun B is narrating the WS.

[WBT 20570]

Yeah, that's the documentary on the series airing on FS1.  The blurays also include all of the WS game broadcasts and the clincher of the ALCS.

[texashorne 1178]

2 minutes ago, WBT said:

Yeah, that's the documentary on the series airing on FS1.  The blurays also include all of the WS game broadcasts and the clincher of the ALCS.

I may pull the trigger on this, but you can guarantee I won't be watching games 1 and 3 again. 

[Planet Houston 4930]

 

[Mitch Hedberg 2090]

 

[UTPhil2006 3807]

Pass 

[tx 3 putt 76956]

I’m curious the trade package 

[UTHornFan014 710]

If we trade Brown or Javier I will lose my shit

[Fudge Nuggets 19190]

FUCK

THAT

[kevwun 15788]

That's hilarious.  I'm sure the Astros are in a real big hurry to trade their 2nd best pitcher.  Schwab seemed smarter than that.

Edited December 12, 2022 by kevwun

[Mstrat 16]

If we trade Brown or Javier I will lose my shit

You DONT do trade deals without a GM. Fuck this speculation. I hope that was the ask and someone in Houston said GFY. I’d rather come up short next year in the playoffs than mortgage the ENTIRE reason we’re okay with letting Verlander walk.

[HtownHorn 14681]

Murphy to the Braves. I would reach out to see what the price is for d'Arnaud. He likely will not want to serve as the backup, and has a $8M TO in 2024.

[dr99 560]

30 minutes ago, UTHornFan014 said:

If we trade Brown or Javier I will lose my shit

We should throw in Pena and Tucker also

[Starfleet Command 441]

Varsho will cost one of their starting pitchers (besides Urquidy) and then some.  Even then, I don't see how he's a big upgrade to what they have currently unless he can competently catch >700 innings a season, which he's only come close to once in his career in AA.  

Two of the Astros best prospects are catchers, with one of them having a bat good enough to play other positions.  Might as well get an economical compliment to Maldy and see if Lee or Diaz can develop into something.  

3 minutes ago, dr99 said:

We should throw in Pena and Tucker also

To be fair the Astros probably should trade Leon to anyone willing to give up anything for him.  Another season of mediocrity and he won't be worth anything.